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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1878)
s. i. J. HUXIWJU. rater ana rroprlrtt,r A JosraalforthePeopie. Devoted to Ihe Interestsof U-umanlly. Independent In Polities and Religion Mtve to all Live Israes, and Thoroagr, Radical In Oppoelncand Exposing t he Wren ) F r 1 UK COR. FkovT "WAftM 1 SUTtIK MTRKKT TERMS, IX ADVANCE: One year. 'x month Tiree months. '. of the Masses. 1 7 1 W Free SrlECH, Fkeb Panss, Krkk Pkopi.e. Correspondents writing over assumed slcna torea most make knows tbetr names to thA Kdltor, or no attention will be tvM lo tbetr communication!. ADVERTISEMENTS Inserted o Reasonable Terms IOTtTr-VlVX, OREGON, TUCXTRSDVY, DECEMBER 15, lr&. TJ3IBEIt 1. FACT, FATE AND FANCY; OK, Here Waf f Urlsc itan (Inr. Br Mi A.J.DCXIWAY. irtHOB or "J 'nu dotd,' "AUK "run HAPrr HO VC, BIC XTC (Knlrat,cKwaitAtofOoCT,ln the year 1K78. by an. A. J. Danlway, la the office of the I i- rnrlnn of Omunim l 1T itilnrnn ritT 1 CnAPTEU XI. "Hold! bold! Mr. Snowdeu, I was only joking," exclaimed the usurer, with a rattling laugh, as though his throat were filled with tcroll saws. Down eame the satchel upon the dingy counter with another heavy thud. "Then, where is my note?" and the debtor gathered fresh courage as the sudden possibility of honorable, or at least, respectable escape from the clutches of the law dawned upon bis un derstanding. "Here, here; yoaehall have yournote; only count me out the money, Mr. Soowden." "Let me see my taper first." "Let me see the mooej' first." "Xot till you produce the note." "Then, let me see the color of the coin." Always set a rogue to watch a rogue if you want the work well done. Mr. Snowdeu slowly opened the satehel and lifted a dozen or more of the double eagles, letting them fall back again with a jingle that J a red Soloniou eould not resist. "My day of triumph will come some day; but I'll put it oil till a time when it won't cost me quite so much financial sacrifice," lie said, under his breath. But it took him what seemed to Mr, Soowden au age, to open his safe, an old fashioned and really very unsafe struc ture, usd merely for appearance sake, for be rarely kept anything valuable in it. He was far too wily In his business affairs for that. But apparent difficulty in opening the sate was a habitual trick of his, and everybody wbo had dealings with him was used to it. "How much interest will you calcu late against me while you are fumbling at that apology for a combination lock, Mr. Solomou ?" Tbe debtor wanted to say "usury" in stead of interest, and "Sbylock," instead of Solomon, but he remembered that he was still in his creditor's power; so he strove to be respectful, though lie eould not wholly resist the temptation to taunt his creditor. "When my business gets brisk enough to enable me to afionl a better safe, I'll purchase one, Mr. Soowdeo, but I have so many hopeless eases to deal with, that I fiud it extremely diffi cult to get toy tread and butter." Tbe debtor laughed nervously. He knew the creditor was lying, and he de spised him for it, too, although he was fully conscious of his own ability to win a seat beside tbe spirit of Auuanias : uimseu iu a matched game among champion falsifiers. Jared Solomon yielded up the note, ud Alonzo Soowden senioreouuted out ne coin, while each kept an eye upon le other with as keen scrutiny as tough their lives depended upon their igi lance. "Saved an by pestilence!" muttered le forger, as he gained the street with le empty bag in one haud and the u iu pled note in tbe other. Then be re enibered nis champing aud impatient team, of which he took immediate charge, and drove toward his stable at a furious pace. He was accustomed to walking to and from bis plaee of busi ness, and had little use for a turnout, save for tbe convenience of bis wife and family, to whom be had always been a devoted slave. It was little wonder that Mr. Snow den's wife was opposed to woman's rights. His family had been a clog upon his ambition in a certain sense from tbe day of his marriage until now. His wife "bad all the rights she wanted," and these included many that properly belonged to her patient, toil lug and obedient lord. She was obese because of inactivity, aud tyrannical because of ignorance. Married early in life, and thoroughly occupied in mind and body after ber own pblegmatle fash iou in rearing her children and keeping ber social place in her set, she had al ways exacted such a support as ber Im agination craved, and ber husband, anx ious not only to oblige her but to keep his family standiug in commercial cir cles quite up to tbe mark, had doubled and redoubled bis diligence as bi do mestic expenses increased, till at hut. when Alonzo junior was of age, and be had begun to hope for that assistance from him iu tbe business of tbe firm which any parent has a moral right to expect from tbe children for whose edu cation be bas made a life-long sacrifice, that son had plunged him into trouble, while sowing his wild oats, from which, as tbe reader lias seen, his father had at last escaped at such a fearful risk. The seuior Snowdeu was his own groom for economy's sake; for, iu his persouai expenses, be was riiMdlv simple jtwafrytbing ... .. - ' bimsel .,,..,;., .i -v... 'sustain tbein, win. r .... . -- rigid economy, ml tl . tvOESEUivimr. Thm ...... aananananananaW noa flTrfflfcualiy stabled and fed, and the poseseor of the brown mansion and expensive family walked wearily toward the house, and entering, threw himself upon a lounge In the dining-room to await his tardy nup of tea. Mrs. Snowden bustled into tbe room, and began wear vine him with small talk. "Would you believe it, Mr. Snowdeu, our new Chinese servant is a perfect nuisance. Don't you think, I went Into tbe kitchen a few minutes ago, and found him wiping the floor with the dish-cloth. And only yesterday he was scrubbing the table with the broom. I declare I don't know what the long suffering women of America will do for servants if tilings go on at this rate." For heaven's sake, Mrs. Snowdeu, stop your clack; shut the halt-door, too, and stop that infernal piano. My head aches fit to burst, and there's no real or peace for me anywhere." What now, Mr. Soowden? Of course I've been doing something reprehensi ble, as usual, lo throw you into a head ache; I'm always to blame, If anything goes wrong. Has there beeu a decline in the price of pork ? I think I'd be careful bow I ttut on airs over a lady if I was only a pork.elier." But Mrs. Suowden was at heart much more considerate tbau her words Itn idied. She eloeed the doors, stopped her "clack," as soon as she had finished her stinging retort, and brought a pil low for her husband's acbing head. Then, for the first time, she noticed that be appeared really ill. "Why, 'Lonzo, what's the matter?" she asked, in real alarm. "I've just got through hell, wife." "What?" "Just that. O, my head." "Husband, are you cramy V "I believe I am." "But, you don't tell me what the trouble is." "You wouldn't understand it." "Yes, I would." "But it's too lato now. Tbe snake of disgrace is scotched, at least for the present." "Diaaraeef "Yes." "Why, surely, Mr. Suowden, you haven't beeu doing anything wrong." "Are tbe doors all shot, wife V "Yes." "Are we alone?" "Yes." "Will we be interrupted soon ?' "Yes; if we remain here. Kong will enter to lay the table presently." "Then we'll go to another room. Oh, my head!" Mrs. Soowden was all apprehension ami curiosity now. She preceded her husband to their chamber, and made a show of real tenderness iu her solicitude for his oomtort. "Poor old fellow; he works too hard," she said, in a caressing sort of way that soothed his aching brain, mi nothing else might. "Do you feel better, now V mhe asked, 'Printing a kiss upon bis dry, wrink led forehead, the first he could remem ber for years. "Much better, wife. You are very kind." "Now, dear, will you tell me what troubles you ?" "I say you wouldn't noderataml it.'' "And I say I would." "Then, wife, I have jtwt escaped the penitentiary." "O, Mr. Suowden!" "Fact," "How ? What do you meau ?" "Well, dear; you know 'Loozo's been wild, don't you ?" ''O, yes; lie's bad bis wild oats to sow. But now lie's married; It will be all right; young men iu his set are apt lo bea little fast while they are boys." "But he's been in great trouble about a girl." "A girlT" "A girl." "Who? What girl?" "You know old man Skaddon ?" "Yes." "You know his daughter?" "Yes." "What do you think of W V "She's very young. "Yes." "And handsome." "Bather." "But the old man's poor." "I know." "'Lonzo has rained Unit girl." "0, Mr. Soowden. Inio8sible." "But true." "Why didn't you tell me of this be fore ?" "Because I did uot dare to. This evening I am desperate. You shall know all." "Bay on." "The boy would not marry her." j "Of course not. He's too much of a Beauchamp for that." "But he was Beauchamp enough to' act dishonorably." j If there was one thing above all oth- ers In which Mrs. Snowden indulged ex- eesslve pride, it was the Beauohamp, family, from which, by her maternal j skle, sbe sprung. According to her Idea, evervthl flfr lira i Hairnrl li V In lipr I liii,irun . , ..... I - u uui-oroppiiig u. icucuoiuie iu tueir conduct was tracea- i.i.ii "cuiict.-iij i iue suowueos. Vn rai!n... , , r...i .i. i .. .. -j mum. i r you please, Mr. Snowdeu. You know I will not tamely submit to them." "Well, the boy would not marry this girl, am) the old man hail to lie bought on." "Her father V "Yes." "Where' the girl ?" "You'd better ask me how I cot the money to get ont of the scrape." "Pshaw! Mr. Soowden! You know I never trouble myself about money matters. It's as much aa ever I eau do to turn and make over old garments and stretch every dollar lo the capacity of half a dozen." "The girl is in the city." "Where V "At the hospital." "Concealed ?" "Concealed." "And Iter child?" "Is at the orphanage." "Is there any prospect that wo ball have further trouble ?" "That's what I want to talk with you about." "O, Mr. Snowden! Why have you hidden all this from me ?" "Because" He hesitated. Poor man; It was not I wholly the fault of Mrs. Suowden that j sbe had beeu an unanpreciatlve wife. As men sow, so shall they reap. He had preferred from the beglnuing to ; manage hisown affairs, as he considered 1 them, and to keep his own counsel, j His wifeaod children were to him a part i and parcel of the luxuries with which ricti men are wont to surround them selves. "My hooee, ray orchard, my dog, my wife, my children and my store" were ranked by him in the same catalogue, j They were his effects, and as such were simply his, to have and hold Recording to his own inclination. His busiuees and his property were alike, including Ids family, what he had made them. His mistake had been in that he bad undertaken loo much aud claimed too much. And when the calamity that fell upon ills son eame before him In the shape of financial rain and social disgrace, it was quite as much his fault as that of bis wife that he did not dare to counsel with ber concerning it. But now, as he said, he was desperate. "Sbe should know all if he died for it," was his mental resolve. "I've been alone through alt the years, wife; through all the years. You have never helped me to I tear any of my burdens, ami you were the very last person I thought of com lug lo the very last." Mrs. Snowden felt culpable, she hardly knew why. According to ber light and opportunities, site had always done the best she knew, she thought. And really, good reader, she was right. Tbat sbe hail not been the helpmate to her husband that sbe might have been, was a great deal more his fault than hers. He hail chosen his burden, and bad dec reei 1 that she should not share it, and he had done what sbe could to I ad.tpt herself to the consequences. "When the old man eame to me with the story about his daughter, I went to 'Lon. about It, ami he owned np like a man. But he wouldn't marry her. She's only a child: barely sixteen, poor thing. And then her father was going to take it into the courts and make a public scandal. So I had to get out of it, somehow. The girls are getting to be marriageable, aud everything depends upon keeping up the respectability of the family. Old Shmldot Is as ava ricious as be Is vindictive, and I had to buy him ott. There was but one way to get the money. My name hasn't been worth a cent at bank for five years past, and I've been obliged lo get money at ruinous rates, when pressed for It, from Jared, the Jew." "O, husband!" "Don't Interrupt me. Old Shaddou gave me neither grace nor quarter. He pmhed me till, in desperation to save 'Loti and you ami the girls from dis grace, I drew up my note for a sum that to-day, in principal ami interest, amounts to eleven tliousan', and to real ise on tbat note, I forged Banks' name! so there." "Does Banks know of this ?" "Know of It? Do you suppose I'd be out of jail three minutes If he did 7" "Husband, I will go at onee and see him." "You most not." "But something must be done." "Something 1ms been doue." "What?" "I've lifted the note." Mrs. Snowden heaved a sigh of relief. "Then why are you so troubled V "Becauw I've escaped Seylla on one side, only to meet Churvhilte , il. other." "Have again?" you committed forgery "Worse than that." "How, worse?" "I've handed over the deed to our new daughter's tliousan' acres, as surety for the eleven thousau' dollars, borrowed money." "Well, what of that ?" "The deed isn't recorded yet, and wc nro llnlila f n 1.4A I li A ulinla t l.l , ' v "w JUU propose lo end this ".ououiy Knows." ....... . . Aim is ii possible, .Mr. Suowdnn n... ,. .. ..i. -uo"uen, ..-..-.. nwnmg BUU Mw that beautiful, bright young girl glveu away in marriage to our sou when you kuew he was not worthy, and yet never entered a protest?" "I had no Idea that you'd take that view of the case, wife." "Of course you bruin' t. You are not the only man who would kuow women better If all men would trust them more. Well, you've gained u littlo time, and you're safe from the clutches of the law. We shall see what can be done, But, first of nil, I must see that unfortu nate and silly girl." To be continued. OTJK EUBOPEAN &REESP0!TDEH0E. 1-rTTKK NUXIIU THIRnutK. NAPLES. Leaving Geneva by the morning train, we go by wayofMt.Cenls' tunnel, Turin, Genoa, Pisu, and CIvIta Vecliia, to Borne without stopping. Itemaining here long enough to make railroad con nections, we are on board the train for Naples, which we reach early In the morning, just forty-seven hours after leaving Geneva. Our first view of the Mediterranean Is by moonlight at Genoa, aud for several hours we are in constant sight of It. The early morning finds U9 on the lookout for the leaning tower at l'isa, which we do not see from the train, but have seen before. Until noon, when wo reach Borne, we are much of the time on the shore of the sea. We pass in plain sight of the island of Elba, and perhaps see the dim outlines of Corsica in tbe far distance. Beyond Borne we are away from the sea, and passing through plaees famillur to every classical student. Of the many, we cuu only mention Capua, which was tbe winter quarters of Hannibal, and where the Insurrection of the gladiators under Spartieus oomuieueed. The speech of Sparticus to the gladiators, so dear to every school-boy's heart, came back to me, aud I looked about for some gludia tor with short sword, helmet aud shield, but saw only a full-rigged Italian ofilcer strutting about the depot. A little later, while the freshness of early mum ing yet hung upou the vineyards and orange groves of this almost tropical climate, we reached Naples, tho light of Italy, its largest city, and. the paradise of travelers. Naples has a population of 400,000, and Is most delightfully situ ated ou the bay of thesame name whose wonderful beauty has been recognized for nearly three tltousaud years. On our long ride along tueqiiay to our hotel, we realize that we are indeed in a strange city and in themidstof a people and productions dillerent from uny we have before kuowu. Iu tbe markets, which seemed to be all only pieces of canvas to keep oil" the sun, were peaches, grapes, oranges, lemons, aloes and nectarines from Sorrento, just across the bay, pomegranates, olives, figs, and several other fruits of which even the names are unknown to us. Bare-footed men and women, and half-dressed oreu tirwly uude children ure to be seen everywhere. In the two miles along the quay an artist could pick nut adozen "Neapolitan Fisher Boys," while men clothed only in two garments stretch out at full length upou the stone pave ments anil sleep. All kinds of work are carried on in the street in front of the houses. Barbers, shoe-makers,lianiess-makersandclothes dealers often have everything nut on the sidewalk. Women cook, wash and Iron, care for their babies, sew, kuit, smoke and do all kinds of household work on the street. Two or three times wo even saw them going through the children's heads hunting game with a fine-toothed eomb. Iu plaees there were large yards in which strips of macaroni ten feet long, hanging over poles, were drying In the opeii air, oxposed to whatever of dirt the breezes of heaven might bring them from the street. Everything about us shows that wo are among a strange kind of people, and In a southern climate. The narrow streets aud high houses, with a balcony iu front of each window, the braying of the omnipresent donkey, tho ceaseless clatter of wheels and snapping of whips, the harsh screaming of the peddlers, the undaunted impudence of beggars, guides, and carriage drivers, nil combine to give the traveler something new at every turn. The national characteristic of tbe In habitants of-NapIes, as lar as they have any, has always beeu, and is now, a love of the enjoyment of the present and an entire disregard of the wants of tbe future. Of all the Italians, the Neopoll tans are the happiest and tho poorest, the laziest aud the dirtiest, aud the least given to mourning the misfortunes of the 18 1, or tho wants of the future. Tbe bare-legged lazzaroni, with an empty stomach and not a single toUlo in his pocket, or any prospect of his getting one, will curl up iu rome warm corner and go to sleep as contentedly as though he were a mlliouaire. Probably no finer or more varied view is to be had in all Italy than from the Carmadoll, a former monastary, on a lofty hill at (bo back of the city. It in cludes all of the matchless bay of Naples, with its numerous islands, much of the city below, on the left, Mt. Vesuvius, with its vine-covered base, and fulles of fertile plain dotted with numerous vil lages, while In tbe opposite direction stretches the open sea. Tbe wonderful beauty of tbe situation and Its surround ings bas given rise to tbe Italian saying-, j "Vetli Xapoli cpoimori !" "See Naples uJa UIO, Our first visit Is to the museum, which is particularly rich In mementoes from the buried city of Pompeii, and there Is no other place where so good au idea can be obtained of the home life of the Itomans as from a careful study of the many articles which nro here pre served. Among these are household and domestic articles, many of which are of similar shape to those in use with us. There was a plane which a modern carpenter would handle with ease. I do not know how man v arttclns there are in all, but Isaw one numbered ten thousand eight hundred and seventy- eight. There are a great many statues. brouzes and vases, In a more or less per fect state, which have been exhumed, one room contains grain of various kinds, bread, meat aud some eggs which came from the buried city. These are all charred, aud would not be recognized except from their form. There is also a glass bottle filled with oil, which la In a good condition, and uot dried un. One of the most Interesting rooms to mecou- tains the library of the Papyri, which was discovered in a villa nearHercula- neum. These rolls were completely eu- crusted with ashes, and they were sup- poseu tor a long time to be valueless. Originally there were three thousand of them, but only oue thousand eight hundred are now preserved. They are charred aud are as black as coal. The inner bark of the papyrus plant was pasted together, forming a long roll, aud on this the wrltiug was done with the stylus. It was for a long time thought impossible to uuroll them, but at length an ingenious machine was made by which they nre carefully unrolled, after being moistened. Two or three of these were at work at tbe time of our visit. Several hundred papyri have been un rolled and read, hut they are mostly of little value. There are also human fig ures encrusted In ashes, which were found In various nlacea In tho i.nrii elty. ' In the afternoon we go by traiu. a ride of forty minutes, to Pompeii, where we at onee engage a guide for the visit to the bulled city. Pompeii was destroyed during the great eruption of seventy- nine, by a cloud of hot ashei, and by subsequent falls of voloanic matter, un til at present it is covered with a depos it twenty feet in thickness. For three hundred years after Its destruction the ruins were dug Into and ransacked for marble and other treasures until it was supposed that everything of value had been removed. For the next 1.400 vears the buried city was neglected and almost forgotten. A little more than a hund red years ago excavations were again commenced, but it Is only within the last twenty years, since they have been taken In baud by the government, that they have been conducted In a system atic manner, and anything like satisfac tory results obtained. Everything which can be readily moved, and even the more important frescoes, as soon ns found, are taken to the museum at Na ples. An area of about sixty-eight acres has already beeu excavated, wbioh Is supposed to luolude the most important third or the city. If the work is contin ued at the same rate as now, It will take about seventy years to complete it, and will cost $J,0O0,O0O. Tile streets are reg ularly laid out, the main ones twenty four feet wide, the narrower ones fourteen feet only. They were originally well paved with large square blocks of lava, which have been worn into deep ruts by wagon wheels. At the corners of the streets are stepping stones projecting nearly a foot above the pavement for the convenience of pedestrians In muddy weather, aud at the same places there are often remains of fountains, ornntlces pointed In real letters, generally relat ing to muniolpal ailairs. The houses are mostly built of concrete, aud covered with a ooatiug of marble or plaster, which was ornamented with paintings In bright colors, red being particularly noticeable. Most of the houses have 8 tnlr ways, showing that they were more than one story high, aud one of them has a charred second story remaining, which was built of wood, and projected over the street. Tbe shops, which were small, were opeued on the street the whole width of tbe front, and closed at night with wooden shutters. The private houses, particularly those of tbe wealthy, were built around an open court, and had only a solid wall on the outside, with a single eutrauce from tbe street. As these walls were built up to tbe line of the street, aud had almost no windows, a walk through a street occu pied entirely with residences must have been a dismal aflair. Within, the: rooms of the houses generally opened Into some court, which was an uncov ered square, containing a fountain or flower garden. AH the walls were brill iantly painted and the floors frequently Inlaid with mosaics. With the bronze ornaments and statuary and the inlaid furniture, these houses must have been cheerful aud very pleasant. It was with mingled awe and pleasure that we wandered amid these remaius of tbe every-day life of the Bomans, and noth ing we have ever seen, except the ruins of Borne, has ever Impressed us so viv idly with the reality of those ancieut times. As we study them carefully in connection with tbe museums, both here and at Naples, and see tbe Imple ments of their every-day life aud labor, we lose something of the poetical idea of the grim Roman who was always standing cold and merciless Iu full armor with drawn sword, and learn t look upon thorn as men of like passions and occupations as ourselves, aud the romance of those old heroic times d win dies away into the real bread and butter occupations of our modern hum-drum life. Late one rainy morning our party left the hotel in carriages for the ascent of Vesuvius by way of Itesiua. A ride of considerably more than an hour, all the way along a built-up street, brings us to Ileslna, where we engage a guide and mules. The carriageway winds up the side of the mountsiu, through vineyards and highly-rultivated fields, until It euiues 10 me overnow or 1872, over which for nearly an hour the road winds until the Hermitage is readied, which is thelimltofearriagetravel. Thislava stream is black, and lies iu great waves and ridges, sueh as would be formed by a seml-liuld muss rolling down the mountain, stiffening as it cooled. It is tbe ideal of desolation itself, not a green thing being able to live upon it. From the Hermitage one can go by foot or by muleover a rough path to the base of the cone, which Is reached iu about one hour. This rises one thousand five hundred feet, and the ascent can only be made on foot. As the cone rises at an angle of about thirty-five degrees and consists of slair and Ioo nsht. which slip back under the feet at every step, the climb is most fatiguing. The traveler is beset with men who oiler their services, aud will help unless they resolutely and energetically re pulsed. Some go just ahead aud extend a strap to the traveler by which he can be partly pulled up, while others get behind aud "boost," and by these com bined means even the weakest finally reach the top. From the edge of the crater is a mag nificent panorama. Before us we see the country for miles around, the bay, the city and far out at sea, while turn ing around we look down Into the smok ing pit some two hundred feet below us. Clambering down the hot, steaming sides, we are at last at the very mouth of the crater, aud to all appearance at the entrance to the infernal regions. The night before our ascent, tbe first display of the present season of activity had taken plaee, aud the sky was lighted up ...... ' . . wim names irom tue burning moun tain. We fotiud that there had been a small overllow durine the nlcht. and that some two acres of the bottom of the Inner crater hud beeu covered with lava. which by the time we had reached it bad a cool crust an inch or more thlek, on which we could walk with care. Through the cracks iu it we could see red-Uot mass uot two luches under our feet. The guides cooked eggs in these cracks, and pressed coins into the melted lava which were drawn out with part of me cooled lava attached to them. We could hear the melted mass In th in. terlorof the mountain surge from side to side as it boiled, aud as often as once a minute melted lava would be thrown into the air through the little cone in the inner crater, and fall near us. The air was full of sulphur fumes, which were at times so oppressive that we could hardly breathe. Great drops of pure sulphur were scattered all around us. At the end of half an hour we were glad to clamber up theslde of the crater, out of the "jaws of hell," and with an other long look at the grand view before us, we scramble down the steep side of tlie cone aud return to the city. After this we shall haveall faith in the power of Vesuvius, and when we read that during an eruption It threw a stone weighing twenty-five tons a distance of fifteen miles, we shall shut our eyes aud swallow the statement without a word of dissent. After mother visit to tbe museum, aud to some parts of the city not men tioned in this letter, we, with regret, take the train for Borne. We shall uever forget how, as we rode for miles aloug the ruined arches of the aque duct, while we were entering Home. the full moon just rising Hashed through the arches which seemed to ily past us. ith this vision of moonlight on the Campagnia, amid the ruins of the great est nation aud city the world has ever seen, we retire for the night, aud in the morning will ask our readers to go with us over, the "Eternal City." O. It. BUKCirAKD. Postal cards give rise to peculiar troubles. A Bochester lumber dealer mailed a card to a discharged clerk, ac cusing him of swindling, and the clerk lias obtained a verdict of $430 damages, based on tbe publicity ol the charge while ssing through the mails. A similar case is ou trial in Pittsburg, the plaintiff being a sewing machine agent, to whom his employer addressed an ac cusation of improperly retaining money. An Omaha clergymsu publishes a cord, comnlaiuingtbat he frequently receives advertisements of wines printed on nos- til earn, and, as he is a total abstainer Irom strung uritiK, trie Impression might oe creaieu mame is a ouyerol tue wine. A isostou lady sends bills on nnil cards to former boarders, accompanied oy urgent requests ror payment. One of the recipients began a suit against her for libel, but withdrew it, bis law yer advising him that, as the communi cation was uula simple request to pay a just debt, lie had no letral irlpvnno A Kansas City girl jilted her lover, and he retaliated by writing her amorous letters on postal cards. She did not in voke tho law, but put a raw-bide In her pocket, lay in wait for the anuoyer, and wuippeu Dim OUE WASHINGTON LETTER. T"' E,In, " Nw NoarHWSsx: The elections are over, and we trust the country is again saf. Whn .i ambitious and somewhat unscrunulou. men, like Ben Butler.are oa.i..- f high ofllees and go into the contest to win at all hazards, we do not alwavs ri assured of our national safety until after the election, for there is no coalition or fraud or other political d-viit., .i.. will not be resorted to In order to reap success. It is all very well to pooh, pooh at Kearneyism, fraudulent votes and registration, yet the difference be tween many of the elections now held In our great cities and the selections of rulers in ancient Borne by reeon to arms, is only one of degree, and time aud courage only are needed to develop continuous and persistent ballot-box luffing into the force given by an armed mob under the guidance of a Kearney or a Cohan, or may we say a Ben Butler? To be sure Mr. Butler is a man of peace, but to gain bis ends, his means set a precedent that will uever, under tho retrograding tendency of politics, lessen in their influence for evil. Milton tells us that "Devil with devil damned firm concord holds," and the man is not far distant who, possessing Ben Butler's wonderful executive and intellectual ability, will unite with It a desire to break down all law and order and by drawing around him tbe fiendish ele ments of society give the nation untold trouble. Our only hope lies in putting down at once all tendency of the turbu lent to rise, and as we understand tbe Massachusetts canvass, we are glad tbat the peace-loving citizens have dictated tbat Mr. Butler must not occupy their gubernatorial mansion. One thing seems apparent from the fall elections. Those members of Congress wbo have most strenuously resisted appropriations have been left at home and new men substituted, aud though, we suppose, the fact of opposing expenditures of public moneys did not really enter into tho canvass against these "constitutional bjeetors." yet it is strange tbat all, with hardly an exoentlon. have been kept at home by their constituents. It is to be regretted that such is the case, though several of these geutlemen in curred much eumitv bv obiectiucr to everything in the shape of an appropri ation, without tbe slightest regard to tbe merits involved. So long as wo lack a constitutional provision compel ling a vote of ayes and noes ou all bills involving expenditure of public moneys, we have Imperative need for a "consti tutional objector," one wbo by "objec tion" compels a vote on tbe numerous steals which every session springs upon Congress, and yet will draw a proper distinction between the annronriatinn for a worthy, national object and tho improvement of a river wbieh has no existence. Our city has been visited with another bank failure. The German National suspended because of inability to cover its assets, and took with it the German Savings Bank, which was attaebed to it. There being no crookedness, defal cation or embezzlements connected with this failure, no one doubts eventual pay ment in run to ail depositors in both banks. Tbe assets seem abundant for the purpose, and though much incon venience and distress must necessarily result from the locking up of the capi tal of business meu aud needy deposit or-, yet the faft that dollar for dollar will sooner or later be paid has sufficed to keep down all excitement, aud the suspension made hardly a ripple on our society current. Jay Cooke's First Na tional Bank paid out in full, and tbat too with a transfer of deposits after tbe smash thatseemlngly partook of sleight of hand transactions. The Celestials, the Chinese Embassy. are quietly taking notes of our political and society matters. We saw tbe whole delegation at the Kuglish Opera, and tuey watched the play as intently as If deeply interested Iu it. Their small tight-fitting skull caps.oruamented only with thered button denoting rank, tbeir peculiar silk blouses and strongly-marked Mongolian features brought them in strong contrast with the "outside bar barians" sittingaround them. They, of course, are perfectly dignified in their manners aud demeanor when in public, which Is more than we can say for some of tbe attache of European legations. Beceutly they visited the American In stitute Fair In Baltimore, and spent the afternoon in looking at the exhibi tion. We doubt not that evnrw vat.,.. ble invention seen there will be notod as it is one of their objects to note the Improvements of our country, for tbe ueneut or their own. Fklix. Washington, D. C, Nov. S, 1873. Lady Anne Blunt, theranddaugh ter or Lord Byron, Is about to publish a volume ou a "Winter's BeWence Among the Bedouin Arabs." She spent last winter with her husband among the wandering Arabs of tbe Syrian desert, and tbey were admitted hy their hosts to the privileges not only of hospitality, butof sworn brotherhood, honored as friends, aud protected by a royal escort. Mrs. Lydia P Knox, of Hill, N. H., made twenty-live cheeses this season, averaging sixteen p"h1j each, aggre gating four hundred pounds. Bui she Is too weak, physically, to be .entitled to the balloU Man wastes bis mornings In antic ipating his afternoons, and wastes his afteruoous In regrettlug his mornings. )